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Home > Rivers > Partners
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Meet Our Partners
National Weather Service collaborates with many federal, state, and local agencies in providing you
accurate and updated information. This collaboration, while avoiding duplication of efforts, enables us
to pool resources to fulfill our mission objectives of providing forecasts and warnings for the
protection of life and property, and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and
products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other
governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community.
Our partners include many federal, state, and local agencies and organizations. This brief introduction
will help you to understand the nature of our partnerships and provide a link to their web sites for
more information.
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United States Geological Survey (USGS)
The USGS is an agency within the Department of the Interior. Their Water Resources Division
collects and publishes stream flow data. It also provides other hydrologic information to enable better
use and management of water resources. The USGS owns and maintains many river gauges which
provide us with data needed to accomplish our mission. The NWS often installs telemetry devices on
USGS river gauges to access data remotely which is then shared by the two agencies. Their Water
Resources Division's URL is
http://water.usgs.gov.
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United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
The USBR in the Department of the Interior primarily operates dams, power plants, and canals in the
seventeen western states of the country. The Bureau's mission is to assist in meeting the increasing
demand for water in the West while protecting the environment and public investment. The USBR
provides rainfall and river data along with information about daily outflow from reservoirs to the NWS
and uses our river forecasts and water supply forecasts in operating dams and plants. The Bureau's
Web site is at
http://www.usbr.gov/main/index.html.
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United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The Corps provides engineering, management, and technical services to Department of Defense and
other federal agencies. They are engaged in planning, designing, and operating water resources (river
and harbor navigation, flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, etc.) and other civil works
projects (environmental restoration, wildlife protection, recreation, disaster response, etc.). The
USACE provide us with current and forecast reservoir outflows. We also exchange river stage and
precipitation data with them. For detailed information refer to
http://www.usace.army.mil.
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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The NRCS, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, works with local, state,
federal agencies and private groups to conserve, improve, and sustain natural resources and
environment. The NWS and the NRCS share and coordinate water supply forecasting responsibility.
The NWS provides hydrometeorological and snow cover data and receives data from SNOTEL
network operated by the NRCS. The network, consisting of 600 stations, provides valuable snow
depth, snow water equivalent, and temperature data for high elevation sites. Many of these remote
stations are inaccessible during winter times but are essential to forecasting snow melt runoff which is
the largest contributor to river flows in the western U. S. For details refer to
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.
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National Park Service (NPS)
The NPS is entrusted to preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park
system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS
cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and
outdoor recreation throughout this country. The park system consists of 378 areas covering more
than 83 million acres in 49 states. Many national parks are part of our Cooperative Observer
Network. There are many gauges located in the parks and exchange data from these gauges with us.
The NPS uses our forecasts for park safety and planning. For more information refer to
http://www.nps.gov.
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ALERT Users Group (AUG)
The Automatic Local Evaluation in Real Time or (alert) is a method of using remote sensors in the
field to transmit environmental data to a central computer in real time. It is a warning system used for
flash floods. It is comprised of local, state, federal agencies and private organizations. The alert users
have come together to share data, hardware, and software in different parts of the country. The
NWS has agreements with AUG members relating to cooperation and support. More information
about alert systems and Users Group can be obtained from
http://www.alertsystems.org.
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Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
The mission of the Bureau is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to
carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes,
and Alaska Natives. It is part of the Department of the Interior. Native American lands are spread
across the nation. Cooperation with various tribes is important when dealing with issues such as
gauges, equipment, flooding in areas under their jurisdiction. Often special consideration will be
required to obtain data and disseminate forecasts or products for these areas. The NWS has
responsibility to provide meteorological and hydrologic forecasts to these Indian nations even though
they are independent nations. For detailed information about the BIA refer to
http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html.
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Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates the Tennessee River system to
provide a wide range of public benefits: year-round navigation, flood damage
reduction, affordable electricity, improved water quality and water supply,
recreation, and economic growth. TVA operates the dams, locks, and
reservoirs of the Tennessee River and its tributaries as one integrated
system in order to provide multiple benefits for the region. These benefits
include year-round navigation, flood damage reduction, affordable
electricity, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and
economic growth. The TVA URL is
http://www.tva.gov/river/index.htm.
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The International Boundary & Water Commission (IBWC)
Established by a 1944 Treaty, The International Boundary & Water Commission
is responsible for the distribution, regulation, and conservation of the Rio
Grande between Mexico and the United States. As a bi-national commission,
they are also responsible for the joint construction, maintenance, and
operations of international storage dams, reservoirs, and hydro electric
plants on the Rio Grande. In addition, the IBWC regulates the water
allocated to Mexico from the Colorado River, protects the lands surrounded
by the two rivers by maintaining river and levee projects, and strives to
preserve the international boundary between the two countries in a
sensitive, timely and fiscally responsible manner. The mission of the IBWC
is to socially and economically apply the rights and obligations that the
governments of the United States and Mexico assume under numerous boundary
and water treaties in a manner that improves the relations between the two
countries. The IBWC's webpage can be found at:
http://www.ibwc.state.gov/
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Besides these cooperating agencies and partners of NWS, local and state emergency managers, city
officials, and others work with us in dealing with problems arising from weather and hydrology related
events.
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